“Kelly come back, I gave you the wrong set of keys,” exclaimed Ben.
I was on my way to get the riding lawn mower so we could begin our spring cleaning. It’s my Mother-in-Law, Linda’s, monstrous area consisting of two acres. We mow every Saturday during the spring and summer months to help her out since Ben’s father passed away.
Outside a gentle breeze flew by as the sun glared down upon our faces. “Is this the best time of day to be doing this?” I thought to myself; as it was a scorcher outside.
So I ventured back to where Ben sat to get the right keys. “Why do you always seem to hand me the wrong keys?” I hastily asked him.
“Well if my mom didn’t have so many keys in that drawer it would never be an issue,” he uttered. I impatiently grabbed the keys and headed back toward the shed.
“Remember to grab the gas for the mower too,” Ben hollered. He’d almost struck my last nerve with his demanding tone.
I yelled back, “Is there anything else your highness”? I grabbed the gas and hopped on the mower to meet Ben out front.
In the meantime, I had sat down on the bench out front to take a breather. Out of the corner of my eye I spotted Ben’s mom, Linda, walking out to the grass to hose off the barbecue cover.
“Wait, I can come help you with that,” I yelled.
“I really appreciate yours and Ben’s help,” replied Linda.
“You’re very welcome. It’s our pleasure,” I said.
A couple of minutes later here comes Ben’s grandma, Ginner pulling into the driveway. “Oh I didn’t know Grandma was coming over,” I excitedly said to Linda.
“Yes, she insisted on coming over to help me clean the porch off,” Linda replied.
I felt a bit anxious at this point as Grandma can become a tad bossy during family cleaning projects. “Hi Grandma, it’s so nice...
... middle of paper ...
...f off?” asked Linda.
“No, I’m doing well out here, but thank you anyways,” I replied. I began working at a fast pace in order to get done so we could go home. After all, I had my own chores to do, such as writing a short scene and reading material for an online writing course that I’m taking; for I want to do well.
I did it. I finished the last item. “Hooray!” I exclaimed. “Ben, I’m done. Are we ready to head home soon?” I asked.
“Yes, we just need to put everything back,” Ben said.
So I hauled the belongings one by one, back into the porch area. I strategically placed each item where it came from. The whole area sparkled.
“Bye Grandma and Linda, we are heading home now,” I said.
“Goodbye dear Benny. Thanks for all of your hard work. Bye Kelly, we appreciate all of your hard work too!” exclaimed Linda.
We began our journey home, feeling very accomplished.
The warm wind blew my hair back, while I listened to the chatter and thumps from the steps on the wooden walkway. Car horns occasionally sounded as they passed by up the road. Colorful sail boats provided a picturesque background. Paris had his camera wrapped around his neck and was focused on the glowing sunset. We sat on a black swinging chair, facing the rippling water that held the sunset’s warm reflection. Paris scrolled through the pictures on his black professional camera.
“Yes dear, but please be careful! I don’t want you to be tracking mud inside the new house!”
We sat there for a few more minutes then I got up and yelled for everyone to get ready to start moving again. I donned my pack and tightened the straps, and after making sure everyone else was ready, started off down the winding trail to the night’s campsite.
... to the barn, friends and family echo "congratulations" and "good for you". The feeling of accomplishment as I dismount amidst all of Hartwood's magic erases any doubts of earlier.
“No. I’m tired of running back and forth getting food and water for you. Besides, you didn’t say please.” Sabrina replied, getting annoyed at his continuous commands.
“OOF!” The proctor tackled Ben and took his lunch back. “EXPECT A SUSPENSION AND A CALL YOU TO HOUSE! Hmphf.” The proctor walked away panting
A long day, as Sunday always seemed, was coming to an end. BA and Liz were preparing for bed, when a call came. A glance at his watch, which read 10:30 brought disgust. "Who could it be at this hour? Couldn’t I pretend we aren't home and let the answering machine pick up?"
It was a bright sunny day, the sky was a soft shade of blue and there
Before I can even get my shoes off, my grandma greets me with her usual warm
I awoke to the sun piercing through the screen of my tent while stretching my arms out wide to nudge my friend Alicia to wake up. “Finally!” I said to Alicia, the countdown is over. As I unzip the screen door and we climb out of our tent, I’m embraced with the aroma of campfire burritos that Alicia’s mom Nancy was preparing for us on her gargantuan skillet. While we wait for our breakfast to be finished, me and Alicia, as we do every morning, head to the front convenient store for our morning french vanilla cappuccino. On our walk back to the campsite we always take a short stroll along the lake shore to admire the incandescent sun as it shines over the gleaming dark blue water. This has become a tradition that we do every morning together
“You know it’s for the best, Jess.” My mothers tone changed to one of a person who sounded tired. Tired of talking about the subject, tired of trying to do the work of it all.
The sunset was not spectacular that day. The vivid ruby and tangerine streaks that so often caressed the blue brow of the sky were sleeping, hidden behind the heavy mists. There are some days when the sunlight seems to dance, to weave and frolic with tongues of fire between the blades of grass. Not on that day. That evening, the yellow light was sickly. It diffused softly through the gray curtains with a shrouded light that just failed to illuminate. High up in the treetops, the leaves swayed, but on the ground, the grass was silent, limp and unmoving. The sun set and the earth waited.
grandmother coming home from work. Soon my real mom came by to “have a serious
I wandered around the path near the lake because it was always peaceful and quiet there in the morning and the trees that hung over the wide walkway only drew me in more. The cool wind blew continuously, and some of the leaves that barely hung on to the branches were pulled along with it. They floated while dropping slowly, and one of the leaves chose my head as a landing spot. I brushed my hair with my hand, not caring if doing so messes up my hair, since the wind already accomplished that job the second I took a step outside my house.
Grandma Judy pitched in. “She figured if she stopped by a couple of times a year it would only confuse you, so she just decided it was just best to stay away.”